January 9, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 8, 1426

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LAHORE, Jan 8: PML President and Disaster Relief Management Society chairman Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said on Sunday the local and foreign people were actively supporting the Punjab government’s Support a Family Programme for the rehabilitation of earthquake survivors.

He said the telethon regarding Support a Family Programme at Dubai proved successful and donations of about Rs500 million were announced. He said the programme would play an effective role in the rehabilitation of the calamity-stricken people.

The PML chief was talking to reporters after presenting a list of philanthropists who had announced donations during the telethon to DRMS patron and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi here. DRMS chief executive Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa was also present on this occasion.

The chief minister said the entire nation had unitedly helped the earthquake survivors and this spirit promoted national harmony.

He said the process of identification of affected families was continuing with the cooperation of Nadra. The PML had done unprecedented work for the relief and rehabilitation of quake-affected people. PML workers were still engaged in the rehabilitation work.

Party president Chaudhry Shujaat, he said, had celebrated Eidul Fitr in the earthquake affected Bagh district and proved that he was with his calamity stricken brethren in the hour of their distress.

The Punjab government had so far sent essential items worth Rs3 billion to the affected areas and the process of provision of relief items was being continuously undertaken.

Mr Elahi said the role of Punjab in the rehabilitation work in the affected areas of the NWFP and Azad Kashmir had been appreciated.

He said the Punjab government had started teaching the rebuilding of their houses to the affected people. It was being ensured that donors had a direct contact with the surviving families.

Mr Randhawa said the financial assistance would be provided to the affected families under the Support-A-Family Programme immediately after Eidul Azha.

He said that Rs6,000 per month would be provided to each affected family. Under this programme, such surviving families would be selected whose bread-earner had died, who had become disabled or jobless.